The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-05-12
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
A cAvALRYMANs STORY
or tho Battle OF Cedar Greek and The GaIlantTy Of
AIT the Troops Engaged.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / have read
with great deal of interest the conflicting ac-
counts of the doings of the Nineteenth Corps
At the battle OF Cedar Creek, on Oct. ~, lobd,
aud deprecate the feeling manifested. IL won't
DO at this late day 10 charge such a large body
OF men with cowardice. towards there were
in every organization, but they were seldom
found at the front. The Nineteenth Corps was
composed of excellent troops. Their bravery
was proved on many battlefield, and at Cedar
Creek, in the latter part of the day, they re-
trieVed the III fortunes of the morning with
their usual gallantry. Having served IN the
cavalry-one Of Sheridan's Rough Riders"
brave Lowell's Brigade, Merritts Division
and having taken an active part in the battle
of Cedar Creek aud being impartial as 10 the
Sixth aud Nineteenth Corps, i propose 10 give
q brief account of that affair from my stand
point, and i'm doing so will not be guilty of in-
justice TO any of our brave boys in blue who 80
CALAMITY routed Jubal Early on that day.
THE POSITIONS
Of the several corps were as has been stated by
other correspondents The Sixth Corps had
the right and occupied the fields 20 the right Of
the main Valley pike, between kernstOwn and
Strasburg. The Nineteenth and part of the
Eighth Corps occupied the left, beginning near
Front Royal and extending toward the pike
road and n little back from the Shenandoah
River, which al this point makes a bend nearly
The cavalry were scattered along this line. Our
brigade was on the left Of the Sixth Corps, and
not far from the Valley pike. Writing from
memory only, j don't pretend TO be entirely
accurate as 20 locations.
On the day before the battle orders were re-
ceiyed that our Cavalary Brigade, starting at
early dawn, should make a reconnaissance in
force of the enemy's position. At about 3
o'clock on the morning OF the 18th the head
quarters Bugler sounded
"BooTs AND SADDLES"
and the call was re-echoed through our camp.
As we had been campaigning all Summer in the
highest possible marchiug order, without over
coats or blankets, il did not take long TO make
our toilets, and in a few minutes we were in
line. Being yet dark, we were told that we
could make coffee. God bless the army coffee,
chickory and all; for &hat would we have done
without it2
At daylight we left our camp. first marching
toward the front, past some of the Sixth Corps
camps and afterward changed our course across
the Valley toward Front Royal. We had gone
but few miles in this direction when we met
demoralized infantrymen of the Nineteenth
Corps making for the rear as fast as they could
run. Meantime we had heard the firing toward
our left and kept on in that direction until
about a. m, when we struck the enemy.
From that time until nearly dark we were
fighting most of the time, and lost heavily in
both officers and men. 1t was here that our
brave Colonel Charles r. Lowell, commanding
the brigade, was shot while CALAMITY leading a
charge, and died soon after. Time aud time
again we
CHARGED THE REBEL INFANTRY,
while our Spencer carbines rang out the death
of many Johnny so that it is hardly modest
for the Sixth Corps to claim the entire credit of
that victory. But here wish TO give the praise
20 which that gallant Sixth Corps is so justly
entitled. That they bore the brunt of that
battle there is no doubt; that they checked the
advance of the exutant rebels is also true.
They stood their ground like a wall of fire.
Such firing of musketry i never heard il was
one continued roar like the heaviest thunder.
only 10 times louder In the meantime the
gallant Phil Sheridan had come upon the scene,
assumed command, and turned the tide Of bat
tle, with his usual result. What promised to
be defeat became glorious victory.
So sure was Early OF victory that he made no
provisions for a retreat, and when they began
10 waver and Our boys charged they became
panic-stricken and fed in utter confusion
then our cavalry charged after them, and, 10
state it briefly, captured everything they had
on wheels, including the ls guns which they
had taken from the Nineteenth Corps at early
morning.
THE "sURPRIsE"
JIG appears that Kershaw had ssked and OBJ
tanned from Early the privilege of leading the
attack on the Nineteenth Corps He surprised
and captured the pickets and then boldly |
charged into their camp. Eighteen guns were
captured where they were parked. Many officers |
were captured as they issued, undressed, from |
their tents, and thus the men became panic |
stricken, and did the best they could TO get out
of a bad scrape, and no blame can be attached
10 them. j may incur the wrath Of some
Of said officers but regardless of that will state
the bottom facts Of the case Whisky was the
cause OF the defeat. A big sutlcr train passed
us the day before the battle and went 10 the
camp of the Nineteenth Corps. Does anyone
remember thatl j think it was that day
that the suffers opened up ia camp, and what
followed was q grand carousal and drunken
spree and many of the officers were captured
ere they had aroused from their drunken sleep.
And thus IL was that the men, seeing how things
were going, soon became demOralzed and fed
for safety; and rightly, too. Now hold your
wrath, We officers Of the gallant Nineteenth
Corps. j don't make the wholesale charge that
All the officers were drunk-far from il; but
that very many Of them were IN that condition
Is true, and many comrades will bear me out
IN this charge The rebels then took TO
PLUNDERINo THE sUTLER WAGONS.
and In doing so neglected TO follow up the
temporary advantage they had gained; but
they were busy going through the suffers and
cleaned out that train. j remember seeing a
dead rebel on the field that had on seven new
suter shirts, one slipped over the other. So,
comrades of the Sixth Corps, deal kindly with
our comrades Of the Nineteenth. Remember
how the boys Of the I'd Mass Cav. used 10
supply you with tobacco on some Of our Virginia
raids. Should this be read by any of nv dear
old comrades who remember me- let them write
70 me; and be assured that as long as life lasts
they will be held in aflectionate remembrance.
IT. II. MERRY, Sergeant, Co. l., ID Mass. Cav,
California Battalion, Hueneme, Ventura Co.,
Cal.
Sec Comrade Taylor's adv. on page 8.